Laughter

I have noticed that when I forget to stop and enjoy life with laughter, that my stress rises and my productivity goes down. We all have those long to do lists and all of the things we feel we “should” have to do. We can push ourselves to utter exhaustion that is riddled with stress trying to achieve something we believe is so very important.

When I push too hard and work too many long hours on my computer, I feel static, unconnected and frustrated. I have tried pushing even harder and then I notice that it takes even longer to do the tasks at hand. My body begins to hurt from sitting too long, the angle of the arms on the keyboard and the tension in my shoulders. It feels at times like I have to give myself permission to go do something fun instead of it being the norm. I can get so caught up in deadlines, visions and the list, that I feel guilty leaving my desk.

I know this is backward thinking. If I give myself time to laugh, have adventure and connect with others, my spirit feels so much better. I know the moment my stress falls away and I catch myself laughing so hard I can't stop that I am alive and enjoying life. Currently I am working on a major project that I am very excited about. No matter the man hours we are putting into it, things are taking longer than I thought they would. I went through a huge spell where I overworked myself and my teammates did the same. I found myself having less patience, more frustration and things got messed up. So I made a commitment to not do that any longer.

This past Friday we went to a friends house by the river where we feasted, laughed a lot and played funny games. We went on hiking and wine tasting adventures. The entire two days was filled with laughter, joy and connection. My spirit loved the freedom to just be in the moment with no worry about the list or the project. This has allowed me to return happy, refreshed and full of joy to my project where I know I will now be more productive.

My friend is a psychologist and she told me that if you just raise the corners of your mouth into an almost smile, your brain will create the feel good chemical serotonin automatically. So when you feel a touch of stress, lift the corners of your mouth. Soon you might find yourself in gales of laughter! Take time to laugh, to have adventures and to live your life fully.

Michelle has over 20 years experience in coaching, leadership and motivation. She is passionate about creating a community for growth, healing and support. She has been recognized for her work both locally and nationally. She inspires audiences and clients with her down to earth stories of struggle and growth. She believes that being authentic has been the key to her success.